ELECTION INFORMATION

On February 6, 2026, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs signed a bipartisan bill passed by the Arizona Legislature changing the date of the 2026 Primary Election. This legislation permanently moves Arizona’s primary elections to the second-to-last Tuesday in July.

As a result, the City of Cottonwood Primary Election will be held on:

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Election Cycle

Cottonwood’s legislative body—the Cottonwood City Council—consists of one Mayor and six Council Members. These officials serve staggered four-year terms, and are elected through non-partisan, at-large elections. City elections are held in the fall of each even-numbered year, on the same days as the statewide primary and general elections. In 2026, the primary election will be held on ~~August 4~~ July 21, 2026, and the general election will be held on November 3.

A candidate for City office who receives a majority of all votes cast at the primary election shall be declared elected, effective as of the date of the general election, unless there are more candidates who receive a majority than there are offices to be filled. In the case that more candidates receive a majority of votes cast than there are offices to be filled, offices will be filled by the highest vote-getters.

If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast in the primary election, or if the number of seats to be filled exceeds the number of candidates who receive a majority of votes cast, a runoff election will be held on the day of the general election. The candidates included on the general election ballot will be those who received the most votes in the primary, but the general election will not include more than two candidates per open seat.

UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN COTTONWOOD

There are three Council Member seats up for election in 2026:

Council Member Debbie Wilden (Term 2022-2026)
Council Member Stephen DeWillis (Term 2022-2026)
Council Member Christopher Dowell (Partial Term 2024-2026)

PRIMARY ELECTION – JULY 21, 2026 - NEW PRIMARY DATE

First Day to File Nomination Papers (Candidates)	February 21, 2026 (150 days to election)
Last Day to File Nomination Papers (Candidates)	March 23, 2026 (120 days to election)
Last Day for Write-In Candidates to File	May 22, 2026 (60 days to election)
Last Day to register to vote (Voters)	June 22, 2026 (29 days to election)
Early Voting Begins (Voters)	June 24, 2026 (27 days to election)
Last Day to request an early ballot by mail (Voters)	July 10, 2026 (11 days to election)
Last Day to vote early in person (Voters)	July 17, 2026 (4 days to election)
ELECTION DAY	July 21, 2026

GENERAL (RUNOFF) ELECTION (if necessary) – NOVEMBER 3, 2026

First Day to File Nomination Papers (Candidates)	June 6, 2026 (150 days to election)
Last Day to File Nomination Papers (Candidates)	July 6, 2026 (120 days to election)
Last Day for Write-In Candidates to File	September 4, 2026 (60 days to election)
Last Day to register to vote (Voters)	October 5, 2026 (29 days to election)
Early Voting Begins (Voters)	October 7, 2026 (27 days to election)
Last Day to request an early ballot by mail (Voters)	October 23, 2026 (11 days to election)
Last Day to vote early in person (Voters)	October 30, 2026 (4 days to election)
ELECTION DAY	November 3, 2026